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Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council approves controversial Highclere bungalow extension




The colour of roof tiles had the fate of a Highclere bungalow extension hanging in the balance.

But the extension plans to Leeham on Pantings Lane were approved despite parish council and neighbour concerns.

David and Jennie Reynolds lodged an application to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to carry out “comprehensive renovations” to their home, which would see a first floor extension put into the property.

The extension plans, credit: EDGE Architecture
The extension plans, credit: EDGE Architecture

The plans were approved by the council’s development control committee on Thursday, September 29.

At the committee meeting, councillor Michael Howard-Sorrell inquired as to whether the tiles listed in the updated application were of a clay colour rather than the blue ones that were in the Reynolds’s initial application.

This choice of the colour blue was objected to by Highclere Parish Council as they believed the tiles would be “out of character with other buildings on the lane”.

The extension plans, credit: EDGE Architecture
The extension plans, credit: EDGE Architecture

Mr Reynolds, who was present at the meeting to state his family’s case for the renovations, confirmed that the couple had updated the plans to take residents’ concerns into account and the roof tiles in the updated application were of a clay colour.

Another key concern was the extension’s possibility to encroach on the privacy of surrounding properties.

In an objection letter, Wayne Cheesbrough and Sheryl Nixon noted that the three first floor windows on the north-facing side of the house would “directly overlook” their residence, Cedar Banks.

Another Pantings Lane resident John Brindley also objected to the proposal on these same grounds, stating “the structure will create an overbearing frontage to the neighbouring bungalow”.

The extension plans, credit: EDGE Architecture
The extension plans, credit: EDGE Architecture

Councillor Stuart Frost raised this issue, and he inquired as to whether these windows would have obscured glazing, a fact that wasn’t made clear in plans.

However, Mr Reynolds ensured him that putting obscured glazing in all three windows “wouldn’t be a problem”, in a bid to ensure the extension wouldn’t affect the privacy of neighbours.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council logo. (54228921)
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council logo. (54228921)

After this was cleared up, Mr Frost made the motion to approve the plans.

Councillor Angie Freeman seconded the motion, and said: “It’s encouraging to see the progression [the plans] have gone through, and all the considerations from various objections have been tried to be taken into account.”



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